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Received my SU-8 in December direct from SZA and I’m happy to report it sounds phenomenal paired with my THX 789.

I use Audirvana for Mac, and I’ve wondered for the longest time now why it is that this DAC processes/outputs all of my music in 32-bit over USB, regardless of the native bit depth of a given track. The sample rate is left unchanged. This behavior occurs with “Integer Mode” enabled in Audirvana’s preferences — when disabled, it processes all tracks in 24-bit instead.

When running the SU-8 with Audirvana for Windows (Bootcamp), I observe that over WASAPI everything is processed in its native bit depth, but over ASIO (with driver) it exhibits the same all-32-bit behavior.

I’ve looked it up many times but have never found an explanation for this behavior. My previous DAC, the Modi 2, was my first and always processed tracks in their native bit depth.

This might not be an issue for some, but it’s bothered me greatly because I’m a bit OCD and after extensive listening it seems that tracks processed in 32-bit offer a slightly wider soundstage at the expense of a slight loss in clarity. These are subjective impressions, of course, but I am certain there is a difference — my friend concurs.

I just can’t determine which I prefer and I end up having to choose between two different versions of each track in my library — it’s an OCD nightmare. I’m OK with 16 -> 32 (I literally have no other choice on Mac), but I go back and forth on 24 -> 32 regarding whether or not I should disable Integer Mode for native 24-bit playback.
I could just use WASAPI on Windows and be done with it, but I always use macOS and prefer it.

I suppose my question is: Why is this a thing? Do other 32-bit DACs do this? Is everything just supposed to sound “better” processed in 32-bit?

Major Contributor

This might not be an issue for some, but it’s bothered me greatly because I’m a bit OCD and after extensive listening it seems that tracks processed in 32-bit offer a slightly wider soundstage at the expense of a slight loss in clarity. These are subjective impressions, of course, but I am certain there is a difference — my friend concurs.

Converting 24 bits to 32 bits should be lossless, unless any processing or volume control is done it should be merely padding some zeros.
I would find it extremely unlikely that 32-bit sounds any different.

Member

Received my SU-8 in December direct from SZA and I’m happy to report it sounds phenomenal paired with my THX 789.

I use Audirvana for Mac, and I’ve wondered for the longest time now why it is that this DAC processes/outputs all of my music in 32-bit over USB, regardless of the native bit depth of a given track. The sample rate is left unchanged. This behavior occurs with “Integer Mode” enabled in Audirvana’s preferences — when disabled, it processes all tracks in 24-bit instead.

When running the SU-8 with Audirvana for Windows (Bootcamp), I observe that over WASAPI everything is processed in its native bit depth, but over ASIO (with driver) it exhibits the same all-32-bit behavior.

I’ve looked it up many times but have never found an explanation for this behavior. My previous DAC, the Modi 2, was my first and always processed tracks in their native bit depth.

This might not be an issue for some, but it’s bothered me greatly because I’m a bit OCD and after extensive listening it seems that tracks processed in 32-bit offer a slightly wider soundstage at the expense of a slight loss in clarity. These are subjective impressions, of course, but I am certain there is a difference — my friend concurs.

I just can’t determine which I prefer and I end up having to choose between two different versions of each track in my library — it’s an OCD nightmare. I’m OK with 16 -> 32 (I literally have no other choice on Mac), but I go back and forth on 24 -> 32 regarding whether or not I should disable Integer Mode for native 24-bit playback.
I could just use WASAPI on Windows and be done with it, but I always use macOS and prefer it.

I suppose my question is: Why is this a thing? Do other 32-bit DACs do this? Is everything just supposed to sound “better” processed in 32-bit?

Huh, that’s very interesting. Unfortunately no, I don’t have any upsampling enabled whatsoever under the Audio Filters tab. But I do notice that without my SU-8 connected, Audirvana is forcing all my tracks to play in 24-bit — surely that can’t be normal?

I’m running macOS Sierra and I do have the Direct Mode hack installed — perhaps that has something to do with it? I can’t imagine what else could be causing it. I’ve tried toggling all sorts of settings on and off but to no avail, with the exception of Integer Mode which forces 32-bit when enabled with the SU-8 connected.

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EDIT UPDATE: Due to glitch in cables, I edit out the review and my observations at the studio are best described in a later post.

When I tried it first at home with my tv, I used Tv optical out to the SU-8 and to my Onkyo A-9010 integrated amplifier and I noticed bass was less prominent compared to the TV-analog out and also the Onkio's optical-digital in. I noticed a mid frequency improvebement but I couldn't discern its real quality because of my system limitations in resolution. I use two Q-Acoustics 3010 for tv and a Samsung blu-ray player (hdmi and coaxial). And I have to say the TV analog rca outs are of good quality since they sound very similar to the Onkyo's Wolfson WM8718 DAC.

At the main workplace in an auditorium with a DLCP Projector and out of coaxial from a Sony BDP-S790 blu-ray player to an analog mixer line-in (unbalanced) and then to powered 400W stage speakers, there is an improvement from the blu-ray player in clearer mid frequencies and dynamics in movies and music. Bass is a bit less full than blu-ray rca outs (probably less 'mud') although stage monitors are bass sentitive and it results in better controlled bass sound profile, more 'isolated'.

Addicted to Fun and Learning

Because these can be all relative as in the M-Studio might have a V or U-shaped frequency profile and the SU-8 a flat one. When you the listen to two such devices next to each other, the flat one will sound like it has a mid-hump and the V or U-shaped one will sound like it has recessed mids depending on which way round you interpret it. Its a very common phenomena with earphones and headphones when people listen to them.

I have no idea how the M-Studio sounds like but just suggesting a possibility here based on what I have experienced with other audio products.

Member

Because these can be all relative as in the M-Studio might have a V or U-shaped frequency profile and the SU-8 a flat one. When you the listen to two such devices next to each other, the flat one will sound like it has a mid-hump and the V or U-shaped one will sound like it has recessed mids depending on which way round you interpret it. Its a very common phenomena with earphones and headphones when people listen to them.

I have no idea how the M-Studio sounds like but just suggesting a possibility here based on what I have experienced with other audio products.

No, but I have compared the SMSL to four different dacs including the M-Audio. I understand what you mean about V and U shape. The M-Audio is equalised for flat response in the studio using a professional microphone, white-pink noise generator and a hardware spectrum analyser. I heard the M-audio unequalised and equalised, and I get an idea of the improvement. However, the SMSL didn't sound well from the start although it might improve by EQ. The tonal balance is not right. I sensed it at home too. Mid frequencies have detail and don't sound digital but just not cohesive and resolved enough as a whole.
Channel separation was not good and timbre was dark, saturated in mids. A good piece of equipment just sounds well from the start, it doesn't need 10 different filters and just sounds true. Also low frequency tones and isolated instrument samples like snare drums made a difference. My friend has good sounding gear and years of experience. I have never heard audio as well as there, custom engineered monitors and a vintage quality power amp. You get to notice compressed tracks easily. I have musical training, go to theatres and classical music is a good test for flat response and tonal representation. The M-audio sounded right.

We tried all sound profiles and filters, and although there are bass and treble balances, the inherent timbre and resolution was unchanged. Some filters didn't sound right. Tube profiles added artificiality.